The Importance of Data Autoarchiving and the Role of Licenses in Research Advancement

Data sharing has become a cornerstone of scientific progress. The mechanisms and frameworks through which it is achieved, such as data autoarchiving and the use of licenses (like CC BY or others), shape the impact of this practice on the scientific community, and more broadly, in society in general.

Data autoarchiving refers to the automated process of storing research data in publicly accessible repositories, ensuring it is preserved and readily available for future use. Integrating data autoarchiving as part of the research workflow ensures that valuable information isn’t lost and is instead integrated into a larger body of knowledge.

By utilizing autoarchiving tools, researchers can make their data discoverable, increasing its visibility and usability within the community (and replicability!). Platforms such as Zenodo, Figshare, and institutional repositories have made it easier than ever to archive data responsibly and efficiently.

There are several licenses available for data autoarchiving

Creative Commons Licenses

• CC BY (Attribution): Allows unrestricted use, adaptation, and redistribution as long as the original creator is credited.
• CC BY-SA (Attribution-ShareAlike): Similar to CC BY, but requires derivative works to be licensed under the same terms
• .CC BY-NC (Attribution-NonCommercial): Restricts use to non-commercial purposes, requiring attribution.
• CC BY-ND (Attribution-NoDerivatives): Allows redistribution with attribution but prohibits modifications.
• CC0 (Public Domain Dedication): Waives all copyright and related rights, placing the work entirely in the public domain.

Open Data Commons Licenses

• ODC-By (Attribution License): Similar to CC BY, requires users to credit the data provider.
• ODC-ODbL (Open Database License): Requires attribution and mandates that any derivative database be shared under the same terms.
• ODC-PDDL (Public Domain Dedication and License): Equivalent to CC0, dedicates the data to the public domain.

Custom licences

Some organizations or data repositories create their own licenses tailored to their specific needs. For example:

• Data Use Agreements (DUAs): Often crafted to define specific terms, including restrictions on commercial use, geographic limitations, or specific purposes.
• Repository-Specific Licenses: Repositories like Dryad or Zenodo might have their own licensing options that align with their policies.

What is the best licence for my dataset?

When selecting a license for data autoarchiving, consider:

• Do you want your data to be completely open (e.g., CC0 or PDDL)? (Openess)
• Should users credit you for your data (e.g., CC BY, ODC-By)? (Attribution)
• Do you want to limit commercial use or derivative works (e.g., CC BY-NC, CC BY-ND)? (Restriction)
• Ensure your license choice aligns with any pre-existing agreements or data sources you’ve used. (Compatibility)